University Grants Commission

IIFT to open its first overseas campus in Dubai, receives govt approval

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, which comes under the Ministry of Commerce, has received final approval to open its first campus abroad, however, final permissions from the UAE are pending

UGC notifies rules for recognition of foreign degrees, aims to cut delays

The Commission has put in place a transparent, technology-driven mechanism to assess foreign qualifications from schools and higher education institutions

Draft UGC regulations for VCs selection 'anti-constitutional': Mahua Moitra

TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Tuesday termed as "anti-constitutional" the draft UGC regulations for selection of vice chancellors in Central and state universities. Demanding a rollback of the criteria of the search-and-selection committee of vice chancellors of state-aided universities, Moitra said during Zero Hour that there is no state-government representative in the committee even though states pay completely for the state-run universities. The draft UGC regulation, 2025, which seeks to replace the UGC regulation 2018, is "over-centralised, anti-constitutional and anti-federal", Moitra said. According to the draft regulations, industry experts, as well as senior professionals from public administration, public policy and public sector undertakings, might soon be eligible for appointment as vice chancellors. The draft norms have also given power to chancellors or visitors to constitute the three-member search-cum-selection committee to appoint vice chancellors. The new guidelines wil

All views will be considered before final UGC guidelines come: Kerala Guv

Downplaying the Kerala government's criticism and opposition to the draft UGC guidelines, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday said everyone's views will be considered before a final version is released. Arlekar also said that India being a democracy, "everybody has the right to say anything over anything in this country and there was nothing wrong with it". The Kerala assembly had on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution urging the central government to withdraw the draft UGC guidelines and issue a revised version. Arlekar said that all the views about the UGC draft guidelines should go to the proper person or proper platform" and they will discuss it. "It is still a draft, not the final version. So, considering everybody's different views, they will come out with the final document," the Governor told reporters here after he called on former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan at his residence. Arlekar inquired Achuthanandan's family members about his health. He said

UGC should hold talks with states before regulation changes: K'taka min

Karnataka Minister M C Sudhakar has written to Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan expressing his opposition to the recently published draft UGC Regulations, 2025. He said UGC should be engaging in a dialogue with state governments before proposing any changes. The University Grants Commission (UGC) called for public consultation of its draft for Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education Regulations. In a letter dated January 13, Karnataka Minister for Higher Education Sudhakar said the state strongly opposes certain provisions related to the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, which he said, strike at the root of the higher education system and powers of the state government. According to the minister, the draft guidelines provide no role for the state government in selecting the Vice-Chancellor of a university. "The guidelines provide

One step back: Draft UGC regulations add to Centre-state tensions

The new draft regulations, issued on January 7, purport to clarify ambiguities in the process of appointing V-Cs in regulations set out in 2018

UGC proposes major overhaul in recruitment of Assistant Professors, V-Cs

Industry experts as well as senior professionals from public administration, public policy and public sector undertakings might soon be eligible for appointment as Vice Chancellors, according to draft norms by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The new guidelines will also amend the norms for hiring faculty members in universities allowing people having a postgraduate degrees in Master of Engineering (M.E) and Masters of Technology (MTech), with at least 55 pc marks, to directly get recruited to the Assistant Professor level without qualifying for the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (NET). The draft norms will also permit candidates to teach based on their highest academic specialisation. For example, a candidate with a PhD in chemistry, a bachelor's in mathematics and a master's in physics, would now qualify to teach chemistry. Similarly, individuals who clear the National Eligibility Test in a subject different from their earlier academic focus can tea

CUET-UG to return to computer-based format from 2025: UGC chairman

CUET-UG will return to the computer-based format from 2025 and students will be allowed to appear for any subject irrespective of the subjects studied in class 12, according to UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar. In an interview with PTI, Kumar said an expert panel set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) conducted a review of the exam and proposed several changes. The panel examined various aspects of the test, such as its structure, number of papers, duration of test papers, syllabus alignment and operational logistics. The changes recommended by it were approved by the commission in a recent meeting. "The exam will be conducted only in CBT (computer-based test) mode from 2025. We conducted the exam in hybrid mode last year but we will move to CBT mode because it is much more reliable and secure as compared to other modes of examination. "Candidates will also be allowed to opt for subjects in CUET-UG which they haven't studied in class 12 to allow the students to cross over the

CUET-UG, PG to undergo changes, revised norms to be given soon: UGC chief

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET) for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses is set to undergo several changes in the 2025 edition following a review by an expert panel, according to UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar. The University Grants Commission (UGC) had constituted an expert committee to review the conduct of CUET-UG and PG. "Based on feedback from past years, it is also essential to continuously improve the examination process to provide a better, more efficient and conducive environment for students taking CUET. In this spirit, the UGC has constituted an expert committee to review the conduct of CUET-UG and CUET-PG for 2025," Kumar told PTI. "The committee has examined various aspects of the test, such as its structure, number of papers, duration of test papers, syllabus alignment and operational logistics. The commission considered these recommendations in a recent meeting," he added. The UGC chief informed that the commission will soon release a draft ...

UGC introduces flexible degree timelines for undergraduate students

New regulations allow students to graduate earlier or later, promoting a student-centric approach in line with NEP 2020

Cabinet approves 'One Nation One Subscription' scheme for research articles

A total of about Rs 6,000 crore has been allocated for One Nation One Subscription for three calendar years, 2025, 2026 and 2027 as a new Central Sector Scheme

Presidency University acting VC under gherao for over 12 hrs by students

Presidency University Vice-Chancellor Nirmalya Narayan Chakraborty has been under gherao for over 12 hours by students demanding a written commitment to reverse the proposed hike in admission fees. The students also gheraoed the registrar in the main campus of the varsity since Wednesday evening. "We want the VC to provide us with a written assurance that the proposal of fee hike will be withdrawn. We will allow him to leave once he agrees to it," Bitan Islam, an SFI activist, said. Neither the in-charge VC Chakraborty nor Registrar Debojyoti Konar responded to phone calls during the protest. The proposed hike would raise fees from Rs 4,205 to Rs 7,200 at the undergraduate level and from Rs 4,300 to Rs 7,200 for postgraduate students. An official from the university said that the proposed fee hike, the first in about 10 years, is being considered due to a financial crunch affecting the procurement of new books for libraries, laboratory instruments, and maintenance of existing ...

Building social capital

India needs to spend more on education and health

Fee hike routine, no major increase in majority courses: Delhi University

The new fee structure will see first-year B.Tech students paying 3.7 per cent more, with fees rising from Rs 2.16 lakh to Rs 2.24 lakh

Eyes on dark web: How Indian firms can protect their data from cyberthieves

To mitigate risks from dark web, organisations should implement cybersecurity monitoring that includes preparation, detection, analysis, containment, eradication, recovery, and post-activity measures

NTA postpones Joint CSIR UGC-NET exam due to 'unavoidable circumstances'

The testing agency also said that a revised schedule for the conduct of this examination will be announced later through the official website

No complaints against UGC-NET; cancelled to protect students: Officials

A day after the UGC-NET was cancelled, Education Ministry officials Thursday said no complaints were received about the exam but a suo motu action was taken on the basis of inputs available with them to protect students' interest. Education Ministry Joint Secretary Govind Jaiswal said the details of the inputs cannot be shared as the matter has been referred to the CBI and is currently under investigation. "No complaints were received but the inputs we received from agencies indicated that the integrity of the exam has been compromised. The action was taken suo motu to safeguard interests of the students," he said. "A fresh date for the exam will be announced soon," Jaiswal told reporters. The ministry on Wednesday cancelled UGC-NET conducted by the National Testing Agency following inputs that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised. The decision by the Ministry comes amid a massive row on the medical entrance exam NEET over alleged irregularities, with the iss

Universities can offer admissions twice a year from 2024-25 session: UGC

From the 2024-25 academic session, the two admission cycles will be in July-August and January-February

CUET exam for May 15 rescheduled to May 29 for Delhi centres: Official

The exam will be held in prescribed schedules for other centres other than Delhi, said the National Testing Agency

IIT Madras raises Rs 513 cr in funding for FY24, says it's a record

Institute's alumni give Rs 367 crore, a 282% rise compared to FY23